Charles Frederick Williams
Charles Frederick Williams | |
---|---|
Brixton, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Education | Belfast Academy |
Occupation(s) | Writer, journalist, war correspondent |
Known for | Former President and Founder of the London Press Club, Former Chairman of the London District of the Institute of Journalists |
Notable work | The Armenian Campaign: A Diary of the Campaign on 1877, in Armenia and Koordistan; Notes on the Operations in Lower Afghanistan, 1878–9, with Special Reference to Transport |
Spouse | Georgina Gould Ward |
Children |
|
Relatives | Joan Alisten Meuser (great granddaughter), Lois Ann Fairley (great granddaughter), and James Douglas Cowan (great grandson) |
Charles Frederick Williams (4 May 1838 – 9 February 1904), was a Scottish-Irish writer, journalist, and war correspondent.[1][2]
Early life
Charles Williams was born on 4 May 1838 in
Career
Journalist and war correspondent
He returned to England in 1859, where he became a volunteer, and a leader writer for the London Evening Herald. In October 1859, he had begun a connection with The Standard which had lasted until 1884. From 1860 until 1863, he worked as a first editor for the London Evening Standard; and from 1882 until 1884, as editor of The Evening News.[1][5]
Williams was best known for being a
At the end of 1878, he was in Afghanistan reporting the war, and in 1879 published the Notes on the Operations in Lower Afghanistan, 1878–9, with Special Reference to Transport.[1][11][12]
In the autumn of 1884, representing the
In 1887, Williams met with then United States General of the Army, General Philip Sheridan in Washington, D.C. to update the general on European affairs and the prospects of upcoming conflicts.[14]
Politics
He once tried to bid once as a
Military service
Williams was wounded three times in action.[17] He was shot in the leg in Egypt in 1885 during General Buller's retreat from Gubat to Korti.[18]
Williams was a member of the 1st Surrey Rifles, a volunteer unit of the British Army;[19] a member of the London Irish Volunteers; and was a known marksman.[20]
Lectures
Williams is said to have possessed a voice of thunder and expressed with terrific energy.[8] He conducted a lecture tour of the United States where he described the six campaigns, illustrated by limelight photographs. His audience in Brooklyn, New York was described by The New York Times as highly delighted by his lecture about the hardships and adventures. His presentation was "a feast for the eyes and ears and was highly appreciated by the large audience assembled."[13] He later toured England, Scotland, and Ireland speaking about his then seven campaigns.[8]
African expeditions
A friend of explorer
Author
Williams also wrote fiction, including his book "John Thaddeus Mackay," a tale about religious tolerance and understanding. With the sanction of Commander in Chief, Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley, Williams edited a book "Songs for Soldiers for the March The Camp and the Barracks" to improve morale and relieve boredom. Included in the book are a number of songs that he composed. He also wrote about ecclesiastical questions, and contributed articles and stories to different periodicals.[1][9]
Williams was a strong adherent to Garnet Wolseley's military views and policy, and had considerable military knowledge.[15] He had also published military subjects in several publications such as the United Service Magazine, the National Review, and other periodicals. In 1892, he published Life of Sir H. Evelyn Wood, which was controversial as he defended the actions of Wood after the Battle of Majuba Hill in 1881. In 1902, he published a pamphlet, entitled Hush Up, in which he protested against the proposed limited official inquiry to the South African War and called for an investigation.[1][9]
Others
Early in his career, Charles Williams shared an office with friend and colleague
In 1884, the steamer carrying Williams and colleague
In
Williams received a personal invitation from
Both of Williams' sons became journalists.
Published works
The following are the publications of Charles Frederick Williams:[27]
- The Armenian Campaign: A Diary of the Campaign of 1877, in Armenia and Koordistan (1877)[28]
- Notes on the Operations in Lower Afghanistan, 1878-9, with Special References to Transport (1879)[29]
- John Thaddeus Mackay (1889)
- "How We Lost Gordon" (Fortnightly Review, May 1895)
- The Thessalian Campaign (1897)
- The Life of Sir Lieut-General Evelyn Wood
- England's Defences
- Songs for Soldiers
- Army Reform
- Hushed Up, a Criticism on the South African Campaign
- Numerous articles in the United Services Magazine and other publications
Recognition
In the Nile Campaign of 1884 until 1885 application was made to the War Office with the support of the Commander in Chief Lord Wolseley for medals for Willams and correspondent Bennet Burleigh. Williams had been twice requested to take command of some of the men by senior officers on the spot. The Secretary of War was unable to grant the recognition under the rules of the day but wrote a letter saying that he regretted that this must be his decision.[15]
Williams was a recipient of the Queen's Sudan Medal, an award given to British and Egyptian forces which took part in the Sudan campaign between 1896 and 1898.[30]
Field Marshall Garnet Wolseley recognized the contributions of Charles Williams on the battlefield. Wolesely said in a speech that from "Charles Williams, he had at various times received the greatest possible help in the field."[31]
Death
Charles Williams died in
His funeral was well attended by the press as well as members of the military including Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood.[33] Colleague Henry Nevison wrote a long reflection on Charles Williams. It included, "On the field he possessed a kind of instinctive sense of what was going to happen. When I went to big field-days with him he was already an elderly man, and much broken down with the hardships of a war correspondent's life; but he invariably appeared at the critical place exactly at the right moment, and I once heard the Duke of Connaught, who was commanding, say, 'When I see Charlie Williams shut up his telescope, I know it's all over.'... "And now he is gone, with his rage, his generosity, his innocent pride, his faithful championship of every friend, and his memories of so many a strange event. His greatest joy was to encourage youth to follow in his steps, and the world is sadder and duller for his going."[34]
See also
- Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley
- Nile Expedition
- London Evening Standard
- Greco-Turkish War (1897)
References
- ^ required.)
- ^ "News Items". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Williams, Charles Frederick". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ Coleraine Chronicle, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, p. 5, 24 March 1900.
- ^ a b c d Kate Newmann. "Charles Frederick Williams (1838–1904): War correspondent". Dictionary of Ulster Biography. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ Coleraine Chronicle, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 2 May 1885.
- ^ Dundee Courier & Argus, Tayside, Scotland March 17, 1894 p. 5.
- ^ a b c "Mr. Chas. Williams' Parliamentary Candidature", Coleraine Chronicle, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 3 July 1886. p. 6.
- ^ a b c "A Soldier of the Pencil: One of London's famous war correspondents". The New York Times. 10 August 1887.
- ^ Williams, Charles Frederick (1878). The Armenian Campaign: A Diary of the Campaign on 1877, in Armenia and Koordistan. London: C. K. Paul & Co.
- ^ ISBN 9780313291715.
- ^ "Scenes of Warfare". Decatur Saturday Herald. Decatur, Illinois. 13 August 1887. p. 7. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ a b "Mr. Williams Campaigns: Interesting Lecture by the English War Correspondent". The New York Times. 15 December 1887.
- ^ "Charles Williams confers with General Sheridan in Washington". The Record-Union. Sacramento, California. 23 August 1887. p. 1.
- ^ a b c "Brave War Correspondents". The New York Times. 22 May 1898.
- ^ Paul Rogers (3 December 2003). "Kenny Memorial Lecture 2003 by Peter Berresford Ellis". Mayo Ireland. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Famous Modern Battles: OMDURMAN. 369". Famous Modern Battles. 6 November 1913.
- ^ "Hemmed in at Abu-Klea". The New York Times. 37 (10, 443). 21 February 1885.
- ^ "1st Surrey Rifles". Volunteer Service Gazette. 29 November 1890. p. 65.
- ^ "Irish Volunteers". Coleraine Chronicle. 16 November 1861. p. 3.
- ^ "Online Collection Database". Royal Museum for Central Africa. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ^ "Britain's dead statesman", The Evening Post, 24 August 1903
- ^ "Bishops' Mitres – Description of a Unique One Presented to the Bishop of London", The New York Times, 27 December 1897
- ^ "Missing Person", Pittsburgh Dispatch, p. 4, 30 November 1890
- ^ Coleraine Chronicle, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 20 February 1904.
- ^ a b "The late Mr. Charles Williams." Coleraine Constitution and Northern Counties Advertiser, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 27 February 1904.
- ^ A Companion To "Who's Who" Containing The Biographies of Those Who Died During The Period 1897 – 1916. Soho Square, London: A. & C Black Ltd. 1920. p. 765.
- ^ Williams, Charles (1878). The Armenian Campaign: A Diary of the Campaign of 1877, in Armenia and Koordistan (PDF). London: C. Keagan Paul & Co.
- ISBN 0313291713.
- ^ William F. Brown Jr. "A Queen's Sudan Medal to a War Correspondent: Charles Williams, 1838 – 1904" (PDF). Orders and Medals Society of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "War Correspondents". The Evening Times. 26 April 1898. p. 6.
- ^ "Famous War Correspondent Dead". The New York Times. 10 February 1904.
- The Western Times, 15 February 1904
- ^ "A Queen's Sudan Medal to a War Correspondent: Charles Williams, 1838 – 1904". The Journals of the Orders and Medals Society of America. 53 (4): 20–23. July–August 2002.